{Wednesday Hodgepodge // Perfect Summer Days, High School Memories + Pickles}

Happy Wednesday, friends! It’s time for another round of Wednesday Hodgepodge...one of my favorite link-ups where we answer a set of fun and reflective questions from Joyce over at From This Side of the Pond. I love the variety in these prompts and how they spark both nostalgic thoughts and current day feels.

So, let’s jump into this week’s questions…

1. The midpoint of summer (believe it or not) is August 7th. Describe a perfect summer day. Have you had one this year?

I’ve been blessed with so many perfect summer days this year...and my heart is full just thinking about it. God is so good. A perfect summer day for me is slow and sweet...it starts with grounding barefoot in the grass and soaking in a little sunshine while watering my cut flowers. Add in a quiet morning of sweet tea and time in the Word, and I’m already smiling.

I love when the day includes a little thrifting with my boys, followed by lunch out together...Nothing fancy, just the three of us enjoying each other's company at one of our favorite local diners. Then it's home to relax, maybe do a little puttering around the house or refresh some decor, and later we’d grill for supper. A walk in the evening, maybe a spontaneous drive to chase a sunset, and just being present together. Those are the kinds of days I bottle up and keep close.

2. What’s one thing you wish you knew before starting high school?

Oh man...high school feels like a whole other lifetime ago. If I could sit my 14-year-old self down before walking into freshman year, I’d tell her this: it’s okay not to have it all figured out.

I was so focused on doing things “right”...the AP classes, cheerleading, extracurriculars. I had the best group of friends and even met my high school sweetheart, who is now my husband. But I wish I had let myself slow down a little more. I wish I realized then that the tiny moments...pep rallies, random hallway conversations, laughing with friends at lunch...would be the ones I’d remember the most.

Don’t sweat the awkwardness. Don’t panic over every little thing. Soak it all in. Those four years go so fast, and they shape you in ways you won’t understand until later. Enjoy the ride, sweet girl.

Nate and I in high school

3. What’s something that bothers you if it’s not done perfectly?

Oh goodness, the first thing that comes to mind is photography. Whether I’m taking a picture or editing it, I can get so in my head about lighting, composition, or coloring. I’ll post something I love and then catch one tiny thing that bugs me later. And then I can’t unsee it. I know I should probably let it go (Elsa-style), but that perfectionist streak runs deep when it comes to photos!

4. What’s the most overrated food you’re convinced people are just pretending to enjoy? And what’s a trendy food you do love?

Okay...I’m probably going to get some side-eyes here, but I do not get the hype over sushi or matcha. Like...why are we trying to drink grass or something that tastes "earthy"? Or eat something that smells like low tide? I just can't.

Now, on the flip side, the pickle trend? YES, PLEASE. I have always loved pickles. Dill, sweet, spicy...you name it. I’m the person who loads up my sandwich with pickles and then adds a side of pickles, too. And anytime the Halls have a get-together, there’s always a pickle tray, and I’m hovering near it. I could live off pickles and be perfectly content.

5. Wrapping it up this week with five fun this-or-thats…

• Personal stylist or personal chef?
  Give me a chef...and only if they’ll do the dishes too! That’s the real win.

• Dance like nobody’s watching or sing like nobody’s listening?
  Both! I’ve always loved dancing and will bust a move around the house any day. And when worship music comes on? I sing like I’m center stage...off-key and all. The joy is what matters!

• Unlimited tacos or free pizza?
  Pizza, hands down. It’s my comfort food, my favorite food, and the one thing I will never, ever turn down.

• Bookshelf organization — by size or by genre?
  Definitely by size! My book stacks have to visually flow. I love aesthetics, even on my shelves.

• Ten minutes late or ten minutes early?
  Early...always! Our family motto is “if you’re not early, you’re late.” We’re usually way ahead of schedule, especially since most things we go to are an hour or so away. And bonus: we often find the best little stops or views because of that extra time.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

I know I’ve been saying I’m torn between holding onto summer and welcoming fall...but something shifted yesterday. I lit a Pumpkin Farmhouse candle and y’all...the cozy vibes came RUSHING in. Now I’m fully ready for all things fall: crisp mornings, football, crockpot meals, flannels, pumpkins on the porch, and yes...more candles. Bring it on.

Thanks for hanging out with me today for another Wednesday Hodgepodge! These little weekly check-ins feel like such a fun way to pause and reflect ...and sometimes, that’s exactly what we need in the middle of a busy week. Whether you're still in summer mode or already dreaming of pumpkin spice, I hope this finds you well and with something to smile about today.